I am glad and thankful that my husband forced me to start

In the words of Rachel Tucker, there is both humor and deep wisdom: “I am glad and thankful that my husband forced me to start reading for pleasure, as it took me years to listen to him and pick up a book!” Though spoken lightly, the statement carries profound truth about the transformative power of reading, the blessings of guidance from loved ones, and the humility required to accept change. She confesses that for years she resisted, yet once she surrendered to the simple act of opening a book, she found joy, nourishment, and the vastness of imagination.

The heart of her words lies in the idea of being thankful for influence. Often in life, we resist what is good for us, dismissing advice from those closest to us because it comes too near, too familiar. Yet, in hindsight, we realize that their urging was not burden but gift. Tucker acknowledges this, giving honor to her husband’s persistence, and celebrating the joy of reading for pleasure—a joy she might have missed entirely had she not listened.

History gives us many examples of lives transformed by books. Consider Malcolm X, who during his imprisonment taught himself to read by copying the dictionary, word for word. In his own testimony, he declared that reading “opened up a new world” and gave him freedom even within his cell. His story, like Tucker’s in gentler form, illustrates the truth that reading is not merely leisure, but liberation. To open a book is to open a door into wisdom, empathy, and unseen worlds.

There is also here a lesson in humility. Tucker admits it took her “years to listen,” confessing her own delay in heeding advice. This honesty is itself wisdom. How often do we, too, resist guidance because pride blinds us, or because we underestimate the value of what is being offered? Her words remind us that wisdom sometimes comes in the form of persistence from those who love us most, and that gratitude is due when we finally awaken to their truth.

The deeper meaning of reading for pleasure must also be explored. To read not for duty, not for work, but for the joy of it, is to enter into communion with the human spirit. It is to sit at the feet of storytellers and thinkers across centuries. It is to stretch the imagination, deepen empathy, and expand the mind beyond the narrow borders of one’s own experience. This is why her thankfulness matters—not only because she discovered something enjoyable, but because she uncovered a wellspring of growth and wonder.

From this we learn a vital lesson: be open to the advice and encouragement of others, especially in matters that expand the soul. Do not let pride delay your growth, nor dismiss the gentle nudges of those who love you. What seems like a small act—picking up a book, trying a new habit, stepping into an unfamiliar practice—may unlock treasures of joy and wisdom that transform your life. Be thankful for those who persist in guiding you, even when you resist.

Practically, this means setting aside time each day, however brief, to read for pleasure. Not merely to consume information, but to savor story, to feel language, to sit with ideas that awaken the heart. And beyond reading, it means to remain teachable—willing to heed advice that may not immediately appeal to us, yet may enrich us in ways we cannot yet see.

Thus, the wisdom of Rachel Tucker endures: “I am glad and thankful…” She speaks with the joy of one who has discovered a treasure long overlooked, and with gratitude for the hand that guided her to it. May we too learn to cherish the simple yet profound gift of reading, and may we give thanks for those who, with patience and love, help us uncover the riches that lie waiting within the pages of a book.